Wild rice harvest down

A wildlife biologist says it has not been a very good year for wild rice in Wisconsin. Peter David of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission says it will be in the lower tier in terms of average harvest over the years. “Probably the biggest reason is the very cool spring, and really cool summer that we've had,” explains David. “I think that cool spring led a lot of seed to remain dormant for another year, and the cool summer has led a kind of late development of the plants.”

David says river beds tend to ripen before lake sites. He says a little bit of harvest activity is underway, and that over the next week, things will start picking up. Those who wish to harvest wild rice do need to get a state or tribal permit.